And Then You Dance (Crested Butte Cowboys Series Book 2) by Heather A Buchman Read Free Book Online

Dottie. I’m thankful every day that you’re in my life.”
    “Who knows Livvie, we might end up official family after all.”
    Liv’s face went white, which made Dottie laugh. She laughed so hard she had to hold her stomach.
    “It’s gonna happen someday you know. Why not with Billy?” Dottie asked once her giggles had subsided.
    “You’ve had longer to get used to the idea,” answered Liv. “Give me a little while to catch up.”
    ***
    Renie please. I’m sorry, he wrote again, the next morning. This was killing him, and he didn’t know what to do about it.
    I brought Pooh home. Maybe that’d get her to respond.
    Less than a minute later Billy’s phone rang. Yep, that worked.
    “I don’t want Pooh at your place, Billy. You don’t have anyone to take care of her.”
    “That’s all you’re gonna say? You aren’t going to ask what I’m sorry for?”
    “I don’t care what you’re sorry for, unless it’s because you moved my horse.”
    “I’m here, and when I am, I take good care of her along with the rest of the horses that board here. Also, I hired Sookie. He’s gonna stay here whenever I’m out of town.”
    “I decided to bring her up here anyway.”
    “Why Renie? Because I kissed you?”
    She didn’t answer. He wondered for a minute if she hung up, but then he heard her breathing.
    “It isn’t a reason to move her, but it is a reason for us to talk, which we could’ve done if you hadn’t high-tailed it out of here yesterday. And then refused to answer any of my texts.”
    “You were drunk.”
    “I was drunk. Still, not a reason for you to refuse to talk to me.”
    More silence.
    “Look, you gotta give me somethin’ here. Are you mad at me because you didn’t want me to kiss you, or are you mad at me because you did?”
    She hesitated. “I’m not sure.”
    “What are you doin’ right now?”
    “Billy—”
    “Just answer me. What are you doin’ right now?”
    “Trying to study.”
    “Is it workin’?”
    “No, not very well.”
    “You think if we hang up right now, it’ll get better?”
    “No.”
    “I’m comin’ to your place.”
    “No, don’t do that.”
    “We gotta resolve this Renie. These have been the two worst days of my life.”
    “Why?”
    “I’ll tell you when I get there.”

Chapter 4
     
    “Have you talked to her?” Billy asked his mom.
    “Livvie, or Renie?” Dottie talked to Liv at least once a week. Billy knew that much.
    “Either.”
    “I talked to Liv a couple of days ago.”
    “How’s she doin’?”
    “Which one?”
    He gave her exasperated look. “As if my life isn’t hard enough Mama, come on.”
    “Liv is concerned about her. Renie asked Ben about workin’ at the Goat for the season.” Dottie shook her head.
     
    Willow started babbling through the monitor. She rarely ever cried when she first woke. She babbled. He’d go in to get her, and she’d be standing up in her crib, watching the door, waiting for him. As soon as he walked in she’d babble even more, and reach out for him to pick her up.
    “Well, there’s my pretty girl,” he kissed her forehead, and held her close. “Grandma’s here. Let’s go see Grandma.”
    Willow kicked her legs and continued with her unintelligible stream of conversation. He couldn’t wait until he understood all that she had to tell him. She was such a chatterbox. Just as Renie used to be. He’d watch her out in the pasture, talking to Pooh a mile a minute. God he missed her.
    He held Willow closer, and she opened her mouth on his cheek. A Willow kiss. He loved them.
    — • —
    It had been a roll of the dice. Billy was pretty sure he’d kissed Renie, but not one hundred percent. It did explain her behavior, which is why he’d decided he hadn’t dreamt it.
    He hadn’t ever visited her at school, but Fort Collins was close to Greeley and he’d competed there enough to know about where he had to get off the highway.
    He called Sookie from the road and told him his parents had a house